It was a repeat of the 2010 League Final when Laune Rangers and
Castleisland Desmonds met in Connolly Park, Tralee today for the 2011
Final. Could Laune Rangers retain their title or were the girls from
Castleisland going to stop the Launesiders from achieving 2-in-a-row! It
most certainly was a game of two halves but Laune Rangers showed great
team play and pride to emerge victorious on a scoreline of Laune Rangers
9-10 – 4-15 Castleisland Desmonds.

Desmonds were first out of the traps with points from captain, Mary
O’Keeffe and Lorraine Scanlon in quick succession giving them the lead.
Amy Foley opened the account for Laune Rangers in the 3rd minute of play
but a mistake in the Laune Rangers back line in the 4th minute saw the
ball fall nicely to Castleisland’s wing forward Rachael Cronin. Cronin’s
shot dropped under the bar scoring the first goal of the day. Desmond’s
continued to dominate and as a result midfielder Lorraine Scanlon went
in for their second goal of the day in the 5th minute. Two more Desmond
points in the 6th and 8th minutes saw Desmonds hold a 2-03 to 0-01 lead.
This seemed to give Laune Rangers the jolt they needed and quick
thinking from Michelle Hoare saw Stephanie Corkery in on goal. Corkery
made no mistake in slotting the ball into the bottom corner to let 3
points between the sides. Sarah Houlihan pointed for the girls from the
Laune in the 12th minute to narrow Desmond’s lead some more. Both sides
swapped points in the minutes that followed with points from Rachael
Cronin and Mary O’Keeffe for Desmonds and Sarah Houlihan and Anna-Maria
O’Donoghue pointing for Laune Rangers to let the game 1-04 to 2-06 in
Desmond’s favour mid-way through the first half. Desmond’s Mary O’Keeffe
was on hand for another point soon after the extend their lead once
more. Killorglin’s Stephanie Corkery got hers and Rangers second goal of
the afternoon in the 18th minute after she was on the receiving end of a
good pass from Sarah Houlihan. Corkery’s goal left 3 points separating
the sides with little over 10 minutes to play in the half. Edel Murphy
and Lorraine Scanlon again swapped points for the sides in the 20th and
25th minutes. Castleisland were dealt a blow when they lost midfielder
Aisling Leonard through injury in the closing minutes of the half,
however they extended their lead once more when Niamh O’Connell goaled
for the Castleisland side. O’Connell’s goal was a result of some good
play between herself, Marian Shine and Cait Lynch. A converted
Castleisland free by Lorraine Scanlon saw 7 points between the sides.
Scanlon increased her tally when a free dropped in under the crossbar
for a goal leaving the score, Laune Rangers 2-05 – 4-09 Castleisland
Desmonds. Desmonds had another chance for a goal soon after when Marian
Shine was through, however the resulting shot was sent wide. In the 31st
minute of play Laune Rangers Sarah Jane Joy goaled, this was followed
quickly after by a Patrice Dennehy point to let the score 3-06 to 4-09
in Castleisland Desmonds favour at the short whistle.

Laune Rangers got the best possible start to the second half when
full forward, Edel Murphy, goaled straight from the throw-in to leave
just 3 points between the sides once more. Murphy was through on goal
again 2 minutes later when she worked well with team mate Patrice
Dennehy. The resulting goal saw the sides level for the first time in
the game, (5-06 to 4-09). Desmond’s answered with 4 points in quick
succession, the pick of these being a Shiellagh Wren effort, to extend
their lead back out to four points with 10 minutes played. It must have
been some team-talk in the Laune Rangers dressing room at half-time as
the girls seemed to go up a gear at this point in the game. A Patrice
Dennehy point was quickly followed by a Stephanie Corkery effort and
there was just 2 points separating the sides. Patrice Dennehy was again
on hand in the 14th minute when she sent a lovely pass into Stephanie
Corkery. Corkery passed off to Edel Murphy who let off a rocket of a
shot that went low into the Castleisland net. Laune Rangers took the
lead for the first time in the game, 6-08 to 4-13. Corkery went in for
her hat-trick of goals in the 17th minute to push Rangers lead out to 4
points. Rangers continued to pressure and were further rewarded when Amy
Foley goaled with 10 minutes left to play. A Desmonds point narrowed
Rangers lead slightly but this didn’t last long as Patrice Dennehy
pointed soon after. Muireann O’Shea got her name on the scoresheet in
the 28th minute to give Rangers an 8 point lead. A Desmond’s free saw
the lead narrowed once more but in the last kick of the game, Stephanie
Corkery got her 4th of the afternoon to let the game, 9-10 to 4-15 in
Laune Rangers favour at the full-time whistle.

It was a great display of football from both teams with some lovely
passing and footwork on display. Well Done to all the girls and to John
and Seamus. The Laune Rangers Ladies can be very proud of their
achievement today!! we wish to extend our best wishes to Castleisland’s
Aisling Leonard who went off injured during today’s game.